What actually happened at the vote

Oct 19, 2013

An observers report:

The Gold Coast Bulletin reported this morning that Council yesterday voted in favour of the CST. This was not what happened at all.

The motion yesterday was to allow the tender process to proceed. Mayor Tate spoke at some length saying that this wasn't a vote for or against but would give the Council the opportunity of sighting the tender documents - perhaps a developer wanted to put a pier out to sea and a casino on State land south of Seaworld. If the councillors voted against it, it would mean they would never know if a proposal was environmentally suitable or not. The mayor also said it would mean the Council would get a lot of helpful information for free about the science of water flow which would be useful even if no development went ahead.

Five or six councillors spoke against the whole proposal again. Three said that they would still vote no but, there was an attempt to make them look unreasonable.

Others said that, while they were against the proposal, they would vote yes so they could sight the tender documents. The mayor also had a cheer squad of four men who sat in the front of the gallery opposite the mayor. They clapped, they cheered and also made disparaging remarks about the dissenting councillors. The mayor kept making eye contact with them and smiling and it was not nice. Nothing was done by security to stop them.

The mayor again said that the assessment would be a partnership between the State and the Council and the Council would insist on a satisfactory EIS. (Before the vote interestingly, they rejected the EIS submitted by Boral on the Reedy Creek quarry). There is a lot of distrust of the State. Margaret Grummit spoke very passionately on the issue, mostly about the State changing the rules as they went along. There was definitely more than one-third against the proposal but only three stuck with voting against the tender process proceeding. It would have been very difficult for them.

Lex Bell will survey Division 7 - all those on the electoral role will be mailed a ballot. He wants to do it now but the mayor said it would be a waste because Lex should wait until the tender is chosen and the division will know what they are voting for. Lex indicated he might do two polls.

The whole exercise was very cleverly manipulated and I am still stunned by the Bulletin article because it is just not reflective of the meeting.

The Bulletin report this morning did not reflect the assertions of the mayor on the meaning of the vote.